An Oral History Of Hakeem Olajuwon, Ralph Sampson, And The 1980s Houston Rockets

Grantland

Posted:
11/12/2012 8:26 am EST
Updated:
11/12/2012 8:26 am EST

Houston Rockets Players, from left, Ralph Sampson, Mitchell Wiggins, and Akeem Olajuwon sit on the bench during the closing minutes of the teams 117-95 loss to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Playoff game at Boston Garden, Thursday, May 30, 1986, Boston, Mass. | AP

Ralph Sampson spoke briefly at a press conference one day before being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He mentioned hearing people say that he'd disappeared of late. "How could a 7-foot-4 person disappear?" he asked. How indeed?